Złoczew is a town in Sieradz County, Łódź Voivodeship with 3,448 inhabitants in 2004 at 51°24′53″N 18°36′26″E.
ShtetLink. [June 2009].
US Commission No. POCE00691
The town is located in Sieradz region at 51º 25' 18º37', 23 km from Sieradz. Cemetery is located on Cegielniana St. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
- Local: Urzad Miasta i Gminy, ul Szerdia 17, 98-270 Zloczew, tel. 20-22-70.
- Regional: Wojewodzki Konserwator Zabytkow, ul. Kojciuszki 3; 98-200 Sievadz, tel. 849-3815.
- Interested: Urzad Wojewodzki w. Sievadzy, Plac Wojewodzki 3; 98-200 Sievadz, tel. 849-71666. Zydowski Instytut Historyczny w Polsce, ul. Tlomackie 315; 00-090 Warszawa; tel. 27-92-21.
The earliest known Jewish community was 16th century (1580?). 1921 Jewish population was 1,959 Jews (39.9%). Jewish cemetery was established in 16th century with last known Orthodox or Conservative Jewish burial 1942. Between fields and woods, the isolated flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall fence or gate. Currently, the cemetery is about 1 ha. 1-20 visible limestone and sandstone flat stones with carved relief decoration, all in original location with less than 25% of the stones toppled or broken, date from the 20th century. The cemetery is not divided into sections. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims but no known mass graves. The municipality owns the cemetery used for crops or animal grazing. Adjacent properties are agricultural and residential. Occasionally, organized Jewish group tours, individual tours, private and local visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II, but not in the last 10 years with no maintenance. Serious threats are security and vandalism. Vegetation and water drainage are serious seasonal problems. Incompatible existing nearby development is a moderate threat; proposed development is a slight threat.
Adam Penkalla, deceased, completed survey in Nov. 1992. He used private documentation and visited the site.